Kentucky DE drawing major looks

With three of the Bluegrass State’s top junior prospects returning from a 12-3 season, Elizabethtown (Ky.) should be a contender for the state championship again in 2004.

Defensive end Brandon Deaderick (6-4, 245, 4.75) will be a force to be reckoned with coming off a junior season which saw him record 95 tackles and 17 sacks.

“Brandon brings a lot of speed for a kid with that kind of size and strength,” Elizabethtown coach Brett Burnett said. “He’s really moves well, and he plays hard. He’s got a good motor. He gives you everything he’s got.”

A two-way player, Deaderick also plays offensive line for Elizabethtown, but rushing the passer is his specialty.

“He’s really tough to block at this level,” Burnett said. “He sees a lot of double-teams and sometimes picks up a triple-team, but he fights through it and still makes a lot of things happen. He’s hard to contain.”

College interest has started to heat up for Deaderick heading into spring practice.

“We’re hearing from UK, U of L, Indiana, Alabama, Marshall, Air Force, Army, Florida, Tennessee… really all the SEC schools,” Burnett said. “His film is just starting to get around, and the people I’ve talked to have been really impressed. He’s going to get a lot of attention between now and the end of next season.”

Burnett said Kentucky and Louisville are high on his list at this point, but noted that it’s probably too early to predict where Deaderick will land.

Deaderick was an all-state selection as a junior. He joins quarterback Chris Todd and tight end/defensive end Zipp Duncan as three potential D-I prospects on the Panthers’ roster this season.